Adjustable kickoff valve



` Aug. 26,1941. c. s. cRlcKMER ADJUSTABLE KICKOFF VALVE Fi led Ocrl 30 1939 Patented Aug. 26, 1941 UNITED sTATEsATENT OFFICEA 2,254,061,HY v l ration of Texas Application october s0, 1939, serial No. 301,974.Y

4 claims. (no1. 10a-23s) This invention relates to new and useful'improvernents in adjustable kick-off valves.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved valve for accurately controlling the volume of a lifting fluid admitted into a well tubing to raise the liquid within said tubing to the surface. f

An important object vof the invention is to provide an improved valve having means for controlling the admission of a lifting fluid into a well tubing, said means being adjustable for varying the amount of iiuid by-passed, whereby a predetermined volume of fluid may be introduced into the tubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved valve having means for controlling the admission of a lifting fluid into a well tubing, said means being adjustable for varying the cross-sectional area of its by-pass, the size of said' by-pass area controlling and determining the speed of the closing of the control means as well as the volume of fluid introduced into the tubing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved valveA including a pressureactuated rvalve `element for controlling the admission of a lifting fluid to a tubing, said element having nonmetallic seating surfaces which are highly oil-resistant and which may be readily and economically replaced, whereby a fluid-tight seal may be obtained at all times. V

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable element for a kickoff valve which is adapted to vary the volume ofy duid by-passed by the valve, said element consisting of complementary sections having passages whichl may be brought in to registration, the relative position of the passages -being adapted to be changed by manual rotation of one of the sections prior to assembly of the valve,

whereby the element may be adjusted to permit liquid pressure to resist the pressure of the liftingY fluid.

vention vwill be -hereinafter described, together with other'features of the invention.

` The invention willV be more 'readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:` f A FigureV 1 is a view, partly in `elevation and partly in section, 'showing a plurality of kick-off valves connected in a well tubing and constructed iny accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken through one of the valves and showing the same inits lower position,

Figure 3 is a'transversa vertical, sectional view of the valve element with the grooves of one seotion in vertical alinement With the wings of the other section,

Figure lis a horizontal, cross-sectional View, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

' Figure 5 is aview similar to Figure 4 Showing the grooves of the sections substantially in registration,

` Figure 6 is `an enlarged isometric View of the complementary sections of the valve element, and Figure 7 is a View similarV to Figure 2 showing the valve converted vinto a pressure differential ow valve;

In the drawing, the'numer'al I 0 designates a well casing which is provided with the conventional casing .head I I at its upper end. A well tubing I2 .extends axially through the casing in the usual manner and has one or more kick-off valves A connected therein at predetermined points.v Of course, the number 'and positions of the valves used are dependent upon the particular conditions of the well. A lifting fluid, such as gas or air, is :admitted into the well casing at desired intervals through anl inlet pipe I3 which is connected into the casing head II and, manifestly, the-fluid llsthe annular space between the tubing and casing. Each kick-oli` valve assembly is 'adapted to admit the lifting fluid from the annular space into the tubing in order to` lift the well liquid which rises in said tubing.

Each valve assembly A includes an elongate, tubular body I4 which has its upper and lower ends externally screw-threaded, whereby it may be connected in the tubing string by suitable coupling collars I5. A radially-extending boss I6 is preferably formed integral with the upper end of the body I4 at one side thereof, while a similar boss I'I is made integral with the lower end of said body in Vertical alinement with the A construction designed to. carry out the inboss I B. The'upper boss is provided with Aan internally screw-threaded bore I 8 at its lower end and a recess or chamber I9 thereabove which opens into the interior of the body I4. A reduced vertical port 20 establishes communication between the bore and recess and, therefore, between said bore and the interior of the body.

An elongate cylindrical sleeve or tube 2|, having an external diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the bore I8, is screw-threaded into said bore and has its lower extremity terminating short of and spaced from the boss I'I. The sleeve 2| is formed with an axial bore 22 which extends therethrough and which is reduced in diameter at its lower end so as to form a counterbore 23. It is noted that the bore 22 and counterbore 23 are preferably in axial alinement with the port 20, as is clearly shown in Figure 2.

Obviously, this reduction of the bore 22 also` provides an internal, annular shoulder or valve seat 24. The exterior of the sleeve, at its lower portion, may also be reduced in diameter and formed with a plurality of flat wrench surfaces as shown at 25, thereby facilitating installation and removal of said sleeve.

A cylindrical valve element 26, having substantially the same diameter as the bore 22 of the sleeve, is slidably mounted with said bore between the seat 24 and port 2|), and is preferably made in two sections B and C. These sections are constructed in exactly the same manner and are mounted upon an elongate pin or stud bolt 21 which extends therethrough. The ends of the pin are screw-threaded and are arranged to receive suitable nuts 28. A plurality of vertical utes or grooves 29, which are arcuate or semi-circular in horizontal cross-section, are provided in the external surface of each section and form spaced, vertical ribs or wings 30, as is clearly shown in Figure 6. It is apparent that the grooves of one section are complementary to the grooves of the other section, and that said grooves may be moved into and out of registration with one another by rotating one of said sections with relation to the other. The outer end portion of each section is reduced to form a cylindrical boss 3| of greater diameter than the port ZIJ or counterbore 23. It is pointed out that the diameter of each boss is substantially equal to the diameter of an imaginary circle passing through the bottom or innerpoint of each groove 29, whereby the annular space between said boss and the wall of the bore 22 forms a continuation of the grooves.

Interposed between the boss 3| of each section and its nut 28 is an annular packing element or disk 33 having substantially the same diameter as said boss. The disks may be constructed of neoprene, or any other suitable resilient material, which is oil-resistant. lock washer 34 may be confined betweenqeach nut 28 and disk 33 for maintaining the nuts in their tightened positions with relation to each other. The lower disk is arranged to engage the seat 24 formed by the counterbore 23 to prevent lifting iiuid from entering the sleeve 2 I, while the upper disk is adapted to seat against an annular seat 32 formed by the port 20.

Since the external diameter of the upper section B and lower section C is substantially the same as that of the bore 22 of the sleeve 2|, there is only a slight clearance therebetween. Thus, the only by-pass area around the valve element 26 is through the vertical flutes or grooves 29 of the upper and lower sections. Manife'stly, by rotating the sections with rela- A conventional tion to each other, the vertical grooves may be adjusted with relation to one another and thereby increase or decrease this by-pass area. Maximum reduction of the by-pass area may be accomplished by rotating one section so that its wings 30 will overlie and be in vertical alinement with the grooves of the other section (Figure 4) and similarly, minimum reduction is obtained by vertically alining the grooves of the sections.

In the operation of the valve, the element 26 is in its lowered seated position with the lower disk 33 in engagement with the seat 24, as shown in Figure 2. When the well liquid within the tubing I2 rises above the chamber I9 of the valve A, it will act downwardly through the port 20 upon the cross-sectional area of the upper end of the section B of the element and will add its pressure to the weight of said element to maintain the same in its lower position. The element will remain in this position until such time as the annular space between the Well casing I0 and the tubing I2 is filled with a charge of lifting fluid, such as gas or air. The pressure of this fluid is, of course, exerted upon the exposed lower end of section C of the element through the counterbore 23 and as soon as this pressure builds up suiiiciently to overcome the pressure of the well liquid acting downwardly upon the element, the latter will be moved upwardly and raise the lower valve disk from its seat 24.

When this Occurs, the lifting fluid from within the casing will liow upwardly through the vertical grooves 29 in the exterior of the sections B and C, into the port 20 and chamber I9, and finally into the well tubing. This admitted lifting iiuid will, ofcourse, lift the wellliquid within the tubing. It is obvious that the size of the by-pass area, as determined by the relative positions of the vertical' grooves, will control the amount or volume of -iiuid which will enter the tubing before the element is moved to its upper seated position. It is noted that the cross-sectional area of this by-pass also controls the Speed or rate of travel .of the element in its upward movement within the sleeve 2|, since said element has a snug sliding fit within the bore of said sleeve. The speed of the upward movement of the element, incidently, determines the time required for the upper valve disk of said element to engage its seat 32 so as to prevent further ow of the fluid into the tubing. This upward movement of the valve element will, of course, be assisted by the velocity of the fluid flowing through the vertical grooves for, naturally, as the load of the liquid column is lightened the velocity of ow through said grooves will be increased.

Upon depletion of the charge of lifting fluid, the valve element will return to its lower seated position and will remain in this position until again raised by a charge of lifting fluid. Thus, a predetermined volume of lifting fluid may be admitted into the well tubing at desired intervals and at predetermined points. When a plurality of valves A are` connected in a tubing string, the uppermost valve below the top of the liquid column within the tubing, and the valves therebelow, will be operated by the fluid pressure to permit lifting of said liquid. However, the

, element of any valve above the liquid column will be moved to its upper seated position almost immediately, since there would be no liquid pressure or other resistance thereabove. It is pointed out that if the well is permitted to stand for Aa period of time, the liquid will sometimes rise in the tubing, whereby fluid may be introduced into the casing without waiting forV said liquid to rise.

As has been hereinbefore Set forth,` the sections B and C of the valve element may be adjusted so as to deliver a predetermined volume of lifting uid to the tubing. Of course, this adjustment must be made manually prior to installation of the valve, but said adjustment may be readily changed by merely pulling the tubing string and removing the valve element from its sleeve. When the grooves of the sections are in vertical alinement, a large volume of fluid may by-pass said element before the same engages its upper seat and the upward movement of the element is relatively slow due to the large by-pass area. However, only a small or minute volume of gas is by-passed when the grooves of one section are vertically alined with the wings of the other section; also, in this instance, the restricted flow increases the velocity of the fluid and causes the element to rapidly move the element to its upper seated position. Thus, it is apparent that the cross-sectional area of the bypass, as determined by the adjustment of the sections, controls the volume of fluid admitted and also controls the rate or speed with which the valve element moves to its uppermost position. It is noted that the resilient packing elements or disks 33 are an important feature of this invention since the provision of the same make possible a fluid-tight seal between the valve element and the seats 24 and 32 which seal cannot be obtained by ametal-to-metal seat. These disks may :be readily interchanged with each other or replaced when the same have become worn or unt for further use.

In Figure 7, a modified form of the invention is shown and includes all of the parts of the rst form. In addition, this valve assembly D is provided with a coiled or helical spring 35 which has its lower end engaging around the boss 3| of the upper section B of the valve element 26, whereby the spring is confined between said element and the annular shoulder or seat 32 formed by the port 2l). Obviously, the spring constantly exerts its pressure to hold the lower valve disk 33 in engagement with its seat 24 and co-acts with the pressure of the well liquid in resisting upward movement of the element by the pressure of the lifting fluid. Thus, the valve A may be readily converted into an adjustable flow valve which is operated by the pressure-diii'erential thereacross.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. A ow device including, a Well tubing, a tubular body adapted to be connected in the tubing and having a passage for establishing communication between the interior and exterior of said tubing, and means having adjustable 'passages therein for controlling the admittance of a predetermined volume of lifting fluid to the tubing by controlling the flow through the passage.

2. A flow device including, a'well tubing, a tubular body adapted to be connectedY in the tubing and having a passage for establishing communication between the interior and exterior of said tubing, means having a by-pass area for controlling the admittance of a liftingfluid to the tubing by controlling the iiow through the passage, and means for varying the by-pass area of said controlling means, whereby a predetermined amount of fluid may be admitted to said tubing.

' 3. A iiow device including, a well tubing, a tubular body adapted to be connected in the tubing and having a passage for establishing communication between the interior and exterior of said tubing, and a valve element having an adjustable by-pass area for controlling the admittance of a lifting uid to the tubing in predetermined amounts by controlling the iiow through the passage.

4. A flow device including, a well tubing, a tubular body adapted to be connected in the tubing and'having a passage for establishing communication between the interior and exterior of said tubing, and an adjustable valve element for controlling the admittance of a lifting uid to the tubing by controlling the flow through the passage, the element having means for varying the volume of fluid admitted to said tubing, whereby said fluid may be admitted in predetermined amounts.

CHARLES S CRICKMER. 

